Music During Exercise in the 3 Weeks

As we discuss here (footnote 4), the custom not to listen even to recorded to music during the three weeks is an outgrowth of the ban on weddings at this time of year (Shulchan Aruch OC 551:3), which Magen Avraham (Shulchan Aruch OC 551:10) expands to dances, and of mourning for Beit Ha-mikdash. (See more about music and mourning for the Temple here.) Halachic authorities apply the constraints on music from 17 Tammuz, though we are generally more stringent with mourning practices during the nine days.
Rav Aharon Lichtenstein reportedly permitted listening to music to keep pace when exercising. In general, one can distinguish between music used to keep pace and music fueling more dance-style exercise. Since there is a range of opinion regarding music for exercise, and since classes and an individual’s need for them vary, more specific questions are best decided through personal consultation on a case by case basis.

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